Courtesy of Mitch Lebovic
Latimer joins the women’s basketball roster as one of the team’s three incoming freshmen.
From basketball state champions to nationally ranked pitchers, many athletes from the incoming freshman Class of 2021 have already had successes and championships of their own.
Here are four rookies to look out for as they enter their inaugural seasons as Colonials next year:
Women’s soccer: Natalie Silberman
Midfielder Natalie Silberman has already made a name for herself in Miami. The 5-foot-7-inch midfielder was named 5A-4A Girls’ Soccer Player of the Year by The Miami Herald, for being the best player in the area at schools similar in size to hers. Silberman also earned a spot on the All-Dade Girls’ Soccer 5A-4A First Team roster for the third year in a row, after putting up 27 goals and 16 assists in the 2016-17 season.
Silberman led Our Lady of Lourdes Academy to four consecutive district championship titles and tallied two goals against Coral Reef High School in the regional quarterfinals to advance the team to the regional final game in January.
As a junior, Silberman led the Bobcats to a state championship appearance and in 2015, she was selected to Florida’s Region III Olympic Development “A” team.
Courtsey of Paul Danesi | Chyna
Justin Mazzulla joins men’s basketball after leading Bishop Hendricken High School to two straight state championships.
Men’s basketball: Justin Mazzulla
Guard Justin Mazzulla is a highly anticipated addition to the men’s basketball roster, coming into the program with a slew of accolades to his name.
As a senior, the 6-foot-3-inch guard helped Bishop Hendricken High School capture its second consecutive state championship and was named to the 2016-17 Providence Journal All-State boys basketball team.
Mazzulla was Rhode Island’s Gatorade Player of the Year for the 2015-16 season and led the Hawks to a 26-3 record and the Open State Tournament Championship as a junior. Mazzulla’s play earned him first team All-State honors and he was named the state tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
Mazzulla was a member of the Boston Amateur Basketball Club program that captured 2015’s 16-and-under AAU National Championship.
“[Mazzulla] will make an immediate impact on our program,” head coach Maurice Joseph said in a statement in November. “His size and athleticism at the point guard position will complement our roster and his character will allow him to thrive at GW.”
Baseball: Harrison Cohen
With a fastball that clocks in at 90 miles per hour, right-handed Harrison Cohen will be a welcome addition to the Colonials young pitching staff that has been inconsistent this past season.
The Syosset, N.Y. native tossed a no-hitter with 16 strikeouts and two walks in April against Locust Valley and was named All-Conference Pitcher at Cold Spring Harbor High School.
Cohen was also selected to Perfect Game 17 Under WWBA All-Tournament Team and was ranked the No. 19 overall right-handed pitcher in New York by Perfect Game.
“I felt that GW and I were a perfect match,” Cohen said to Prep Baseball Report in January. “I’m very excited to be a Colonial.”
Women’s Basketball: Chyna Latimer
Chyna Latimer is no stranger to winning. The 6-foot forward has snagged two state championship titles this year.
The Bel Air, Md. native scored a team-high 23 points in the state championship game in March to help Patterson Mill High School claim their third state title in four years. The Huskies were 26-1 heading into the competition.
As if one state championship title this year wasn’t enough, Latimer won the 2017 Outdoor Maryland Public Secondary Schools Athletic Association Triple Jump title after jumping more than 35 feet in May.
Latimer was a finalist for The Baltimore Sun’s 2016-17 High School Female Athlete of the Year honor and totaled 1,494 points in her high school career.
